Thomas Sack, who has worked nearly 30 years at MRIGlobal, on Thursday was named president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit research organization that focuses on global health, energy, national security and defense.

Sack had served as the interim leader since the departure early this year of Michael Helmstetter.

“Tom has the experience, knowledge and passion to lead MRIGlobal into the future,” said Willaim A. Hall, chairman of the organization’s board of directors.

Sack now oversees an organization that manages $100 million in contracts and has 550 employees, including chemists, biologists and engineers, in 10 U.S. locations and overseas. The organization’s headquarters is at 425 Volker Blvd. in Kansas City.

The organization, among other things, is a partner in the Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC, which manages more than $400 million in research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Sack joined MRIGlobal as a college intern when it was known as Midwest Research Institute. Before being appointed interim CEO, he had served as senior vice president and director of technical operations.